The scene where a woman was found slain in Lodi, N.J. Her two children were abducted and an AMBER Alert has been issued. (Credit: CBS 2)

UPDATED 1: 24 a.m. 5/10

LODI, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — New Jersey State Police say two Lodi children whose mother was found stabbed to death, prompting an AMBER alert Friday night, have been recovered safely.

The alert was issued after the two children, ages 7 and 8 , were allegedly taken from a local school by their father, and their mother was found stabbed to death.

Their father was taken into custody near a relative’s home in South Carolina, and the two children were recovered safely, New Jersey State Police told CBS 2 early Saturday morning.

Authorities had initially believed the two boys were in immediate danger.

New Jersey State Police told CBS 2 the two children were abducted after their father allegedly picked them up from Wilson Elementary School, at 80 Union St. in Lodi.

The mother of the two children was found stabbed to death in the family’s apartment, in a complex at 222 Garibaldi Ave. in Lodi., police said. The boys’ father — who was the woman’s estranged husband — was suspected in the slaying, police said.

The boys were identified as Nicholas Jordan, 8, and Anthony Jordan, 7.

An AMBER Alert was issued for Anthony Jordan, 7 (left) and Nicholas Jordan, 8, after they were allegedly abducted by their father and their mother was found stabbed to death in Lodi, N.J. (Credit: New Jersey State Police)

An intense hunt was mobilized Friday night, and police put out several descriptions of vehicles Jordan may have been driving.

2 Children Abducted In Lodi, N.J.; Mother Found Stabbed To Death

New Jersey State Police also requested the AMBER alerts from Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

As CBS 2’s Dave Carlin reported, the mother’s identity has not been officially confirmed, but she has been identified by neighbors as Tracey Jordan.

“And then they said Tracey is gone. And from what I understand, the last time someone spoke to her was 9 o’clock this morning, and they couldn’t get in touch with her all day, and supposedly he came in, he stabbed her seven times, then he went over to the school and said that (the boys) had a dentist’s appointment, and they let him take the kids,” said the victim’s friend Marie DeJulia. “I’m scared to death that he’s going to harm them and himself.”

2 Children Abducted In Lodi, N.J.; Mother Found Stabbed To Death

Friends said Tracey Jordan and her husband were getting a divorce. She grew up in Saddle Brook and went to Saddle Brook High School, and worked at a retail store in Secaucus, friends said.

“It’s just real shocking to me. I don’t understand how this could happen,” said neighbor Jerome Hart. “She lived two doors down from me – that’s the thing about it. I see her coming and going.”

In March of last year, CBS 2 interviewed Tracey Jordan for a story about school security after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Conn.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t want to send them to school, but we have to live our lives and go on,” she said.

“It’s just real shocking to me. I don’t understand how this could happen,” said neighbor Jerome Hart. “She lived two doors down from me – that’s the thing about it. I see her coming and going.”

Friends of the victim told WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell she was scared of her husband, who was abusive. He had hit her several times, and he was angry that their divorce was about to be finalized, 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria reported.

“We just want the babies to come home,” DeJulia said. They just need to find him and bring the children home.”

Anyone with information was asked to call 911 right away, or contact Lodi police at (973) 473-7600, or New Jersey State Police at (609) 963-6951.